Furniture Today - August 04, 2003

Maitland-Smith has invested a significant amount of money and manpower in improved packaging, something they expect will bring long-term savings as the new packaging program gets under way. President Seamus Bateson said the high-end importer took a year and a half developing the packaging, with much of that time spent trying various beefed-up padding, tape and carton materials.

• News
• Seven furniture carriers form consortium
• Furniture.com launches style suggestion service
• RTG to enter two cities
• Workers back antidumping petition
• Durham closing Toronto showroom
• Dimplex taps Douglas as Canadian sales mgr.
• Hickory Springs promotes McNeely and Sweeney
• Theodore Alexander plans to develop retail displays
• Vineyard taps Franklin for sales VP
• Serta's sheep rap on new TV, radio spots
• Roomful Express sets opening
• Hooker plant among topics of ABC's 'Nightline' series
• Laid-off Stanley workers win federal help
• Obituaries
• Obituaries

• Store Openings
• Atmosphere enters New York
• Swan's has Flexsteel gallery
• Becker Furniture World opens 5,000-sq.-ft. Natuzzi gallery
• S.C. Furniture Liquidators store installs 4,000-sq.-ft. England gallery

• Business Today
• Ethan Allen 4Q sales up 0.7%, profits dip 3.8%
• Havertys sees better 2nd half
• Three rental firms post sales hikes

• Special Report
• Sleigh bells ringing in metal and wood

• People Today
• Gold Bond appoints three in management and sales
• La-Z-Boy taps Mather as mfg. VP
• People on the Move
• People on the Move

• Bedding Today
• Readers share thoughts on some recent columns

• Insider's View
• Antidumping action could affect everybody

• Opinion Today
• Catfish and furniture: Unfair or free trade?
• Yarns telling a tactile, colorful tale

• Up Front
• Simmons sets big push into luxury arena
• Vermont Tubbs will close if buyer not found
• Sherrill Furniture buys stake in Theodore Alexander
• Maitland-Smith refines systems
• Madden signs deal with JCPenney
• England promotes four in sales, merchandising
• Just Wood expands plant
• May factory orders drop 11%
• Fabric supplier Duralee launching furniture line
• Broyhill enters race for Congress in N.C.
• New Classic planning East Coast facility
• Economic impact of H.P. market studied
• Portfolio appoints Kaplan to relaunch furniture efforts